Nepal, China flood death toll climbs past 2,400

Search and rescue operations are intensifying in Nepal and China as the death toll from catastrophic floods climbs, with over 2,400 people now missing. The disaster, triggered by a glacial collapse, has unleashed a destructive wave of water and debris, sweeping away villages and claiming hundreds of lives.

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Today is the third day and we don't know anything. Hopefully he is in a safe place. We lost everything. He is our everything.

Rescuers face immense challenges, battling through thick mud and the persistent threat of further flooding. So far, 586 bodies have been recovered, with some victims swept downstream into India. The scale of the tragedy is underscored by the addition of 933 hydropower workers to Nepal's missing persons list, which already includes trekkers and pilgrims.

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ALL SWEPT AWAY

In Nepal's capital, frantic relatives gather at hospitals, desperately searching for loved ones. Posters bearing photos and names of the missing adorn the walls, a poignant testament to the widespread devastation. The disaster is the deadliest for Nepal since the 2015 earthquake, highlighting the vulnerability of the region to natural calamities.

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immediately move to a safe location

Adding to the peril, a large lake formed by debris poses a significant threat to emergency workers. Chinese authorities temporarily suspended rescue efforts in the hardest-hit area of Gyirong due to the risk of renewed flooding from an overflowing debris dam. While the immediate threat has eased, the situation remains precarious, with rescue operations proceeding cautiously.

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Two helicopters have been dispatched but it is challenging because it is tough to even locate the entry points of the tunnel.